OTD: Waqar Younis was born in 1971

It was on this day, November 16 in 1971, when great Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis was born. He was born in Vehari, Punjab, but was raised by his father in the United Arab Emirates, who worked in Sharjah.

He later returned to Pakistan and studied in Lahore, Bahawalpur, and Burewala while playing cricket and began his domestic career in Pakistan in 1987-88. After impressing with his pace and ability to swing the ball, Younis was discovered by the great Imran Khan and was drafted swiftly into the Pakistan team after playing only six first-class games.

Waqar made his Pakistan debut in an ODI in Sharjah in October 1989 against the West Indies, and his Test debut came in November 1989 against India in Karachi, incidentally the same game in which Sachin Tendulkar also made his international debut.

Waqar became part of Pakistan’s pace attack with Wasim Akram and Aaqib Javed and also played for Surrey in English county cricket. A back stress fracture kept him from the Pakistan team, and he missed the 1992 World Cup win under Imran Khan.

However, once he returned in 1993 after regaining full fitness, Waqar breathed fire as he and Wasim Akram outplayed England in the 1992 Test series in England, and then he starred by taking a hat-trick in New Zealand.

He became Pakistan’s captain in 1993 for the first time, at the age of 22 years and 15 days. His second stint as Pakistan skipper came in 2000. Overall, Waqar Younis played 87 Tests and 262 ODIs for Pakistan from 1989 to 2003.

He took 373 runs at an average of 23.56 in 87 Tests, with 22 five-wicket hauls and five ten-fers, including the best bowling figures of 7/76 and 13/135. While he also took 416 wickets at an economy of 4.68 in 262 ODIs, including 13 five-wicket hauls and best bowling figures of 7/36.

He ended his playing career in 2004 after Pakistan crashed out of the ICC World Cup 2023 and his performance dipped alarmingly. He coached Pakistan in multiple stints in 2006, 2009, and 2014.

Waqar resides in Australia with his wife, Faryal, and they have three children: two daughters and a son. He remains a well-known name in media and does commentary on TV in various Pakistani matches.

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